Washing machine provided with vibration dampener and mounting



oct. 21, 1952 1B. may 2,614,410

WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER AND MOUNTING Oct. 21, 1952 Y J. B. KIRBY 2,614,410

' WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER AND MOUNTING Filed Feb. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Q '49 L f 3 l 68 66 67 68 73 I l 73' 65 6"'57 1 72 72 5 i Ii 'I INVENTOR. JAMES B. Kl RBY.

AzToRNEYs.

oct. 21, 1952 J. amm 2,614,410

WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER AND MOUNTING n 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18, 1947 Oct. 21, 1952 1 B, KIRBY 2,614,410

WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRTION DAMPENER AND MOUNTING Filed Feb. 18, 1947 5 sheets-.sheet 4 4 ATTORNEYS.

J. B. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER AND MOUNTING Oct. 2l, 1952 Filed Feb. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 YHUIA INVENTOR. JAMES B KIRBY. BY /b/y fm ATTOHV Patented Oct. 21, 1952 muriel)v STATE WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER AND MOUNT- ING James B. Kirby, West Richeld, ohio, assi'gn'or to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as

trustee Application February 18, 1947, Serial No.`729,372

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the elimination of vibration in rotating and oscillating machinery, with particular application to laundering machines of the character disclosed in my copending applications, Serial No. 526,154, filed March 13, 1944,'now Patent No. 2,520,366, Serial No. 619,849, filed October 2; 1945, and Serial No. 671,779, filed May 23, 1946.

These laundering Amachines incorporate a container in which articles are first washed and are then dried by centrifugal action. During the washing operation, the-container is given'a rapid oscillating, jigging, or wobbling motion, the consequent reversals of motion tendingI to establish vibration. During the centrifugal drying operation, unbalanceA of the material in the rotating container may VValso cause vibration.

The vibratory tendencies of the machine during both phases of operation must be inhibited to provide an acceptable machine.

The principal" object of this invention is to prevent, absorb, nullify, or counteract vibration Referring toY the drawings:

Figure ,1 is ka vertical sectional view of a washinghmachine incorporating one embodiment of the inventionthe -section being taken on aplane passingthrough the central axis of the machine;

. Figure 2 is an enlarged partial vertical section takenLon the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in -Fight, showing principally the vibration eliminator; n

Figure 3 isa horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig'. 2; Figure 4 is av partial plan view illustrating the l flexible mounting for the moving parts of the machine; i

Figure 54 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line5-5 in Fig. 4;

" "Figure 6 isa vertical axial section of a washing machineincorporating a second embodiment of the invention, taken on the plane indicated by fthe line 66in Fig. 7; and

`Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by thegline 1-1 in Fig. 6.

' The washing machine comprises a casing II, Fig. 1, preferably rectangular in cross section, within which is xed a cylindrical tub I2. The

`articles to be washed are placed in a more or less toroidal container I3, which is supported within the tub by a pedestal I4. Transmission of vibrations from thecontainer I3 to the frame of the 2 s machine may be'lessened by a slightly resilient support for the pedestal I4 comprising four radial arms I6 (Figs. l, 4, and 5) bolted to a flange I1 welded to the pedestal at the base thereof. The outer ends of the arms aresecured to thefour corners of a square plate I8 by nuts I9 oneyebolts 2| passing through the arms and threaded into the plate. The plate I8 may be leveled by adjustment of the eyebolts therein. The eyebolts are suspended by short closed coil springs 22 engaged in the eyes thereof, and in eyes 23 of brackets 24 bolted into the corners of the casing II. Rubber bushings 25 having grooved margins are fitted into the eyes of the bolts 2I and brackets 24 to eliminate any tendency of the springs 22 to chatter inthe eyes.

The portion of the casing which supports th weight of the rotating mechanism is strengthened by corner stiffeners 26 of appropriate gauge welded into the casing. The lower edges of the stiieners 26 are welded to an angle iron frame 21 welded to the lower portion of the casing, and constituting therewith a channel section.

Preferably, the casing is supported upon-four adjustable feet 28 (Fig. 5) each consisting of a body 29 tapped for the reception'of a cap screw 3l fitted with a jam nut 32. The body 29 may be Welded to the bottom frame 21. i-

Relative movement between .thepedestal I4 and-the tub I2 is accommodated by a ilexible boot 33 (Fig. 1) of rubber orthe like, secured at its upper end to the pedestal by screws 34, and at its lower end to a ange 36 in thebottom of the trib circumjacent'the pedestal by rivets or bolts 3 f Any vibration in the machine would normally originate in the container I3 and be transmitted by the pedestal I4. A vibration-eliminating device 40, which will be' described later, nullies substantially all vibration. Isolation of the pedestal from` the tub and licor-supported frame prevents transmission of vresidual vibrations thereto. This isolation is accomplishedfby means of the boot 33, and the suspension by the springs 22. It should be noted that ;the springs `are primarily suspension links permitting lateral vi bration of the plate I8 and vthe mechanisms supported thereby without transmitting the vibrations to the frame, and thus preventing any tendency of the machine to crawl across the floor. This suspension may. however, be omitted since substantially all vibration is damped.

The operation of the container I3 is fully explained in the abovementioned copending appli.- cations, but will be described brieiiy herein in the interest of fuller understanding of the vibration problem to the solution of lwhich thev instant invention -is directed. A, motor 4I (Fig. 1)

@mounted on the pme lagdrives a hollow shaftl `42 Within the pedestal by means` of a belt 43 and pulleys 44 and 45. .A Vflange 46 at the upperlend j msselastiesystemsfbems @tunedcto v1;

3 of the'liilowfdriyef-shaft 42 mounts ag-ba'llbearr ing 41 irr'slfghtlyJ skewed relationI to thefshaft. The inner race'of the bearing supports the con-f.

tainer I3, the axis of whichlcpinidesqwith. the

axis of the bearing. A. contrglhat fWithllj the hollow drive shaft 42 is coupled to the con-'- tainer I3 by means of a universal jointy 49 ;a n d is fitted at its lower end withaQbi-ake-drum 51. The control shaft may be restranedagains .110:

tation by a brake band 52, or may be coupled to the drive shaft for rotatiorr therewith clutch..

devices 53 engaging the inner surfacemofi the.

` pulley 45.

When the drive shaft-gis rotated and the contmshaftfiisf hiakcdiim the fwashingfoperatiml. @container @fclose non ate; but has.: an -Ostlletingimotid whichemaa bLe describedasfthe resultantmtwofsimpleiharmenicoscillatinssin winters' ofzphese,1aboutmutuellyipsrpendicur ifherizntalzaxesr,

,whentimachinefissoperated'asia centrifuge the dgiveffandef.cqntrclshaftsareweunledtogether.,

Mime motions r-the contain ris, ai-.simplelrof eraiheibyrthereierenceinumber?MimrFier,

prises aisleeye; 6 1; Fissi, andfi, dimenscned grton thezpesiestalslfand lockegr-,mspcsitim by asset r`,crew iii..v The-sleeve isffermed .fwit-.hrcuryeduivspaced;prciections 63 with empires Mitaneenttcithe Aout rrsklr'fece of the sleeve for the recept Ot .thelcwergecleesf four:z-scmt.creiuar:fiat prins 65r.1arrer1;eed:spi milvecnwerd Afrcxnftiriers center-stained :nn-thermen emi-'505;thes1eet .rieur mahme screws ltzcemnressivel. f,

ftisoertleirfretsntmn@ u holes in the outer ends of the springs'retarn y bushing/saluter; erwell1-kncwnetypa-the 1n aaimiliat:nausea Qfxwhirztr.embrace theaedeesrcf essie; anslei 12,7 Th f a t, fthe: und@ h yi. r -Itsir-illrbe;app .entg thatfbyivirttrefqf thenrazir mmiinswhichthe weights gare suspendemthey maxwbrateihorizontally any direction with mapectataethetpedestal, 1:4; with-the fsamerffundazbra-tienifahserberiidentiedasenr 4 liftljtle side 'of the machine' `wl'iereylit frests upon affiloorY or lother support;v the lifting-tendency .traveling about the supporting base at the same rategat whichthe hollow shaft 42 is rotated. A

compgrfientjof the motion which tends to result from this couple; is transverse to the column axis atthe point of support of the springs 65 and the devicej'is thereby set in motion with suflicient amplitudetto'lcounteract the couple. Since the shaft 42 is drivenat the same speed for both Washing andextracting, the vibration absorbing deviceisproperly tuned for both types of vi- In either mode of operation of the machine, therefore; the vibrations. Qf; the: pedestal-ere queue d hither-reactions Jof the.; resonant-in: duced-1 -bratiQnS o f thedevce.

Agniedifica-Y icrm 0f vbratO'n-absorbme. device empl@ ne thefprinciplesiust fkcor. isic'lcredf--,iSi11us...-L treated n.Eigs.anyanl;j7. The washing-fmachm is thezsamayscitneed-not bedescribed., Them a: tion eliminator is mounted on tha-reels; susi- ,pendedfbase plate lil-inthesecond form rBhe principal elastic members are. rvertical lrolsLftltL preferab thrfeeinnumber, xed in any'desired msn-ner 'hsocketsi B-lbolted itofthebase .mai-.e518

,equallyl-spaced relation With respect-tothe .852. arefretainezd; by: nuts; B6.-M Theifbllhnfarc vformedwitlia'lgrooved.v vperipherywhichreceives the inner margin of', an "offset, annular member 81. Thelmexn'bers 81 are.y bolted to;a`rng;8;8pr,o; vid'edwith aperturesA B9 `:for clearancefofithe ,n rods. Weights 8] aresuSpendedfrom thegringinterme 'diatctherodsbyfboltsxSZ. 'I-'hei-massi-comprised yby the weights 191i parts rigidlyassociated therewithvvmayf vibrate .in any horizontal direction byA nexionof' the .rodsl The mass may also osillate to a limited L'extent about horizontal'axes. thrQugh-its center-'ofemass by; flexion" o f t-hebushngsff.v i Vibratb'rtpnA o f lthe pedestal; t4; due to the oscillating or; rptaryfniotion of'L the'l rcontainer j vas previcvnfisly described. appearsi'in Athe plate I8 at-jleastpart asrhorif Zontal vibration, and is` damped "by resonantg--vi'- braticns of, the mass-elastic, system, or theireds. ring, arldlfwghts- It should. be notiedivthat this .exble isuspen* sich` of;'the.w0rkine;parts of the machine 'and their isolation 'from the casing and "fran1e,' v are .Siti-Lei:4 n

It will loe-:apparent that various forms offzexiblewmembranesg or other devicesz-tozf-preserve; the IWaten-tightn ess l :of the; 'bottom-o1? fthe.` tank'A and -pern1it,free movement of thepedestal. and 1v1- rbratlngvrods; relative :ther-retos il'heftermgfilexib'le boot in the claims is intended to be generic to all such iiexible connections.

Althoughthe foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that lvarious rearrangements of parts and modiiications of, detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In a laundering machine, a frame, a subframeV including a base and a pedestal extending upwardly from the base, a container for articles being lprocessed mounted on the pedestal on an axis inclined with respect to the axis of the pedestal, means on the subframe for imparting rotary and Wobbling motions to the container for centrifugal extraction and for washing respectively, vibration-damping means on the subframe, and means for supporting the subframe from the frame comprising a plurality of links freely articulated to the subframe at the outer periphery thereof and the base, the links normally being substantially vertical, each link consisting of a closed-coil spring.

2. In a machine, a subframe comprising a base and a member extending upwardly fromthe base, a rotor mounted on the top of said member, means on the subframe for imparting rotary and oscillating motions to the rotor, and means for damping vibrations of the subframe resulting from. movement of the Arotor comprising a body surrounding the member and having its center of mass substantially coincident with a line joining the centers of mass of the base and rotor, a plurality of elastic members having one end thereof coupled-to the member and the other end free to vibrate, and ilexible means coupling the free ends of the elastic members to the body.

3. In a machine, a subframe comprising a'base and a member extending upwardly from the base, a. rotor mounted on the member in vertically spaced relation to the base, means on the subframe. for imparting rotary and oscillating motions to the rotor, and means for damping vibrations of the subframeresulting from movement of the rotor comprising a body surrounding the member and having its center of mass substantially coincident with a line joining the centers of mass of the base and rotor, a plurality of elastic members having one end thereof coupled to the base and the other end free to vibrate, and ilexible means coupling the free ends of the elastic members to the body.

4. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe, a pedestal extending from the subframe upwardlyinto thetub, a iiexible boot between the pedestal and tub, a container atop the pedestal, means for imparting motion vto the container, and Vibration-damping means mounted on the pedestal within the tub comprising a ring disposed around the pedestal, a plurality of flat springs attached to the pedestal and extending therefrom, and means connecting the springs to the ring.

5. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe flexibly mounted in the tion-damping means mounted on the pedestal Y around the pedestal, a plurality of iiat springs xed to the pedestal and extending spirally therefrom, and resilient means connecting the springs to the ring.

6. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe freely suspended from the frame below the tub, a pedestal extending from the subframe into thev tub, a ilexible boot between the pedestal and tub, a container atop the pedestal, means for imparting rotary and oscillating motion to the container, and vibrationdamping means mounted on the pedestal within the tub comprising a ring disposed around the pedestal and a plurality of fiat springs iixed to the pedestal, extending spirally therefrom, and connected to the ring.

7. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe freely suspended from the frame below the tub, a pedestal extending from the subframe into the tub, a flexible boot between the pedestal and tub, a container atop the pedestal, means for imparting rotary and oscillating motion to the container, and vibration-damping means mounted on the pedestal adjacent the container comprising a ring disposed around the pedestal, a plurality of flat springs fixed to the pedestal and extending spirally therefrom, and resilient means connecting the springs to the ring.

8. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe freely suspended from the frame below the tub, a pedestal extending from the subframe into the tub, a exible boot between the pedestal and tub, a container atop the pedestal, means for imparting rotary and oscillating motion to the container, and Vibration-damping means mounted on the pedestal within the tub comprising a ring disposed around the pedestal, a plurality of flat springs xed to the pedestal and extending spirally therefrom, and resilient means connecting the springs to the ring.

9. In a laundering machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a subframe freely suspended from the frame below the tub, a pedestal extending from the subframe into the tub, a iiexible boot between the pedestal and tub, a container atop the pedestal, means for imparting motion to the container, and vibration-damping means mounted on the pedestal within the tub comprising a ring disposed around the pedestal, weights rigidly suspended from the ring, a plurality of iiat springs fixed to the pedestal and extending spirally therefrom, and resilient means connecting the springs to the ring. l

JAMES B. KIRBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 373,577 Barrie Nov. 22, 1887 2,130,160 Schellenberg Sept. 13, 1938 2,278,911 Breckenridge Apr. 7, 1942 2,302,012 Dyer Nov. 17, 1942 2,311,545 Hurley Feb. 16, 1943 2,347,190 Geldhof Apr. 25, 1944 2,361,266 Clark Oct. 24, 1944 2,408,509 Clark Oct. 1, 1946 2,437,651 Rasmussen e Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,199 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1937 

